In the historic public square of Nelsonville sits an old movie theater with no heat and ripped up floors. The building is not abandoned, however, and though it is no longer used to screen films, it does house the works of local artists.
“The building used to be a movie theater, and the heating system is very expensive. For as long as I’ve been a member we haven’t had heat in the winter,” said Kathy Guest, who has been a member since 2009. “We just say that we let the art warm you from the inside.”
A vintage style sign for the Majestic Galleries, 20 Public Square, now hangs on the old theater, which a cooperative of artists rents. The 17 members of the co-op are responsible for paying the building’s rent and working at the gallery, which presents different shows each month.
“There’s no hierarchy, and we’ve come to start calling ourselves a community of artists,” Guest said. “We’re there to support each other and invite our friends to see the other artists work; it’s just a very nice atmosphere.”
Gallery openings always coincide with Nelsonville’s Final Fridays, and the new group exhibit opening this Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. is a special celebration for the members of the gallery. After several artists retired and with the cooperative’s bank account depleted, the Majestic came close to closing its doors for good at the end of 2011.
“We were on the crux of having to close, but we ended up getting seven new members,” said Dennis Savage, who has been a member since 2009. “The most exciting part of this show is that we’re actually able to have a show.”
With pieces ranging from large-scale sculptural installations to photos taken with toy cameras, the artists of the Majestic are using the exhibit to present a wide array of artistic expression.
“There’s a really eclectic mix of work in this show,” Savage said. “From traditional to conceptual, this show has the whole spectrum.”
Friday’s show marks the first time that the seven new members will have the chance to present their work at the Majestic.
After the Majestic Galleries began looking for new members at the end of last year in the hopes of keeping the doors open, Geoffrey Schenkel from Marietta jumped at the chance to join the cooperative. He had presented artwork at a show in Columbus during the summer hosted by the Majestic.
“When I went to the opening I could tell that this was a place that interested me and fit what I do,” he said. “When I heard they wanted new members I thought, ‘Okay, that’s where I want to be.’”
The addition of new members is not only keeping the Majestic open, it is also adding a new dimension to the gallery.
“The young artists, they just come in with fresh eyes and a lot of energy towards brand new work,” Guest said.
Though the show opening on Friday has no theme, it holds a lot of significance for the members of the Majestic. For the new members, it is the first time they will show any work within their new community of artists. For old members, it is a celebration of staying open. And though the building itself may be cold, the members hope the future is much warmer.
“It’s the kickoff of our hopefully more secure future,” Guest said. “Because we’re going to make sure that we keep an eye to the future all the time so that we can keep going as far as we can see into the future.”
bm257008@ohiou.edu
